Portable confessional



-Patented- MaIyZB, 1893- y ///P/|f( l. l. ////////////////./////////////f `A AA/Aff////////////////////////////////,

M. H. SULLIVAN. Y PORTABLE GONFESSIONAL.

(No Model.)

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ATTORNEYS we NoRms PETERS co.. vnoopwo. wAsHlNcmN. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL I-I. SULLIVAN, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PORTABLE coNFvl-zssloNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,179, dated March 28, 1893. Application filed March 11, 1892. Serial No. 424,544. (No model.)

To all whom it Ice/ay concern:

Beit known that I, MICHAEL H. SULLIVAN, of Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement lin Portable Confessionals, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is, to provide a neat and ornamental structure, capable of erection without use of tools, vat any desired locality, which will be adapted for use as a confessional having two places for the reception of oral communications from penitents to a Confessor. l

A further object is to furnish a compact folding device which when closed will form a substantially rectangular package for convenient transportation, and which is adapted for speedy erection into a booth having a central apartment and two lateral compartments, wherein penitents may communicate orally with a confessor occupying the central compartment.

To these ends my invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of the device closed by a curtain. Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the curtain removed, the parts being adjusted for use. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. lshows the parts in a folded condition for transportation; and Fig. 5 shows an enlarged broken detail of construction opposite the arrow 5, in Fig. 3.

The rear wall A, is preferably paneled to give it a finish and render it strong as well as light, a sufficient width and height being at'- forded for its use. Upon one side edge a wing wall piece B, is hinged, which is L-shaped in cross section, the hinged connection being effected at the vertex of the right angle produced by said construction, as shown at a, in Fig. 3. Upon the 'other side edge of the rear wall A, a wing wall piece C, is hinged at the rear corner a', of such piece. The manner of hinging the wing pieces B, and C, upon the wall piece A, permits the wings to be folded toward each other upon the rear side of piece A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and full lines in Fig. 4. Two side walls D, E, are provided, the wall E having a hinged connection at Z1, with the short forwardly extending portion of the Wing piece B, at the outer corners of the joined parts, which. will allow the side wall named to fold parallel to the wing wall it is loosely jointed to. kThe other side wall D, is hinged at c, upon the inner and front edge of the wing piece C, and is thereby permitted to have close contact therewith when the parts are folded together.

When the structure is erected, the side walls D, E, are extended in parallel planes as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and are thus retained by a similar rail or bar d, on each side; which rails are loosely connected at e, to the outer edges of .the wing walls B, C, and are thence projected horizontally and diagonally across the angular spaces between the Wings and side walls, having their front ends removably locked fast to catches of any suitable form that are attached to the sidewalls, one means for such a connection being indicated at g,in Fig. 5. The side Walls D, E, are oppositely apertured as at lo c' to permit conversation through from the center chamber or compartment with a person on the outer side of each Wall. There is a seat board m, hinged to the rear wall A upon the front side, at a convenient distance from the lower edge of said wall; said seat being of such a proportionate length as will allow it to rock freely within the space between the side walls D, E, its position in a horizontal plane being maintained by an engagement of its ends with stop-blocks n, or similar projections from the sidewalls. Two triangular stools o, of proper height, and such dimensions as will permit their location in the triangular spaces between the wing walls and side walls of the structure, are placed in position for the support of kneeling penitents. A cornice bar G, which may be emblematically ornamented, is placed upon the side walls D, E, when the structure is erected, and any suitable drapery H, in curtain form is attached removably to the bar so as to fall in front of the structure and conceal the sides as well as front of the same, a sufficient length being provided for the bar and curtain to eect this protection.

IOO

In assembling the parts for erection, these are adjusted as shown by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, which will provide a stable device that may be stood at any desired point in a room, and thus provide means for administration of the rite of confession to two persons successively, the aperture on one side being closed and secured by any suitable means while the other is in service.

When the structure is to be transported it is folded as shown in Fig.4, and secured so as to prevent any parts from flapping loose, and may then be boxed or otherwise protected if this should be required to prevent injury thereto. Y

Having thus described my invention, what Ielaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A portable confessional, comprising a rear Wall, side wings hinged to the rear Wall, one of the side Wings being L-shaped and hinged at the vertex, of the angle apertured side walls one hinged to the forwardly extending portion of the L-shape wing and the other to the inner front edge of the other wing, and detachable braces extending from the wings to the side walls, substantially as described.

2. A portable confessional, consisting of the rear Wall A, the side Wings B C hinged to the rear Wall, the Wing B being L-shaped, the apertnred side Walls E D, the Wall D being hinged at o to the side wing C and the wall E to the forwardly projecting member of the Wing B, braces d extending from the Wings to the side Walls and detachably secured to the side Wall, the seat m hinged to the rear Wall and supported by stop blocks on the side Walls, and the triangular stools o in the spaces between the Wings and side Walls, substantially as herein shown and described.

MICHAEL H. SULLIVAN.

Vitnesses:

THOMAS WIsEMAN, IGNATIUs J. KELLY. 

